Letter: Expansion of aid to benefit veterans

Saturday

Nov 11, 2017 at 5:00 AM

As we celebrate Veterans Day to honor the brave men and women for their service to our country, Ohio’s public community colleges also want to thank Gov. John Kasich and members of the General Assembly for expanding Ohio’s student financial-aid program so that military veterans attending a public two-year institution are now eligible to receive these benefits.

With November being Hire-a-Veteran Month in Ohio, we cannot think of a better way to help veterans start their careers than investing in their postsecondary training and education.

This much-needed change to the Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG) program means that veteran students at a community college can once again receive state financial aid to help pay for their housing and other living expenses while attending a community college. Due to a shortcoming with the OCOG program, students attending lower-tuition public institutions of higher education have been unable to access state financial aid.

With this change, state leaders have opened a pathway that will allow veterans attending a community college to find successful careers after their military service without the burden of significant student debt.

Our community college leaders are grateful for the countless sacrifices of our veterans and they are proud to join Ohio’s leaders in their commitment to providing them with an affordable, high quality college education.

Jack Hershey

President, CEO

Ohio Association of Community Colleges

Columbus

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